Dementia
Let’s beat it!
In medicine, dementia is the greatest challenge of our generation with many of us being touched by it, a tragic condition which devastates lives. However, there is hope on the horizon and we are getting closer every day after decades of research. Even though we have made giant leaps recently, by continuing to work together and support research projects, we will diagnose dementia much sooner, discover life-changing treatments and find a cure.
Here are just a few ways we’ve been helping to fight it since 2011…
Together we’re making a difference…
“I love working for a company that cares about causes that matter to us all. Together we can really make a difference and help change the future for everyone.”
Iceland Colleague
…and we’re all in it to beat it!
Sir Malcolm Walker & Richard Walker – Everest Climb
Sir Malcolm has climbed Everest’s North Col, abseiled down The Shard, trekked towards the South Pole and written an autobiography, all in aid of dementia research.
In 2023, our Chairman Richard Walker revisited the Everest trek and made it to the summit all in aid of dementia.
What we’re doing to help…
Simon Felstead"It's really great to see what's happening with the money we've been raising in stores. Our store team genuinely feels like a family. The team really get involved.
It makes me feel very proud, my Nan and Grandad both passed away with dementia. It's going to be fantastic when it's all completed".
Store Manager, Iceland Fulham
World leading research centre for dementia
We have given £10million to help establish the new UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, which is due to open fully in 2025.
We also brought together some of the biggest names on the high street, put aside our differences, and formed the UCL Dementia Research Retail Coalition. By donating from the sale of 5p carrier bags our partners; Asda, Waitrose, Morrisons, WHSmith, Farmfoods, Booths, Poundland and HSS Hire added a further £10 million.
This world leading research centre for dementia will be home to over 500 international researchers, working together to tackle one of the greatest medical challenges of our time.
Hilary Evans“We are immensely thankful to the Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation for their generous support of Alzheimer’s Research UK over the last 12 years. Almost one million people are living with dementia in the UK and tragically, not one of them will survive. We
urgently need to revolutionise the way we treat, diagnose and prevent this condition.So far, the Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation has raised over £5 million for Alzheimer’s Research UK, helping us move closer to this goal. Thanks to our ongoing partnership, we have been able to support vital research projects that have improved our knowledge
of this complex condition, including work in the early detection landscape. In stores, Iceland Foods promoted our Think Brain Health messaging to motivate thousands of customers to make brain healthy habits and potentially reduce their risk of developing dementia.We cannot thank Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation enough for their support to end the heartbreak of dementia.”
Chief Executive of Alzheimer’s Research UK
Alzheimer's Research UK
We’ve worked with Alzheimer’s Research UK since 2011.
£5 million raised by our colleagues and customers has supported many vital research projects across the UK, including the amazing ‘Brains for Dementia’ project at the University of Newcastle, another world class initiative. Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation is also delighted to fund Early Career Researchers’ work in Dementia with Lewy Bodies and Cutting Edge Stem Cell Technology.
Dr Lauren Walker talks about the work in Cutting Edge Stem Cell Technology.
Our joint charity of the year campaigns have been a huge fundraising success, we are also proud to support their incredible awareness raising activities, including #ShareTheOrange
We are delighted that Sir Malcolm Walker is a Patron of Alzheimer’s Research UK and that our Chairman Richard Walker is an Ambassador.
IFCF has been delighted to have supported Frank Rothwell in the Talisker Whiskey Challenge in 2020 and 2023 by match funding him £600k. This has helped Frank raise over £1 million for Alzheimer's Research UK
Professor Nick Fox"We would like to thank Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation for their fantastic support towards creating the world’s first rare dementia support centre - and to making a real difference to families facing the most difficult of situations.
The level of fundraising achieved is truly amazing. We are so grateful for the efforts of everyone at Iceland and the Food Warehouse across the UK - and for the backing and dedication of all the Foundation’s Trustees.
Richard Walker’s Everest Summit in memory of Lady Walker, is an extraordinary feat of physical and emotional endurance that is both humbling and inspiring to us and to our collective supporters.
The Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation partnership with The National Brain Appeal has been genuinely transformational for the charity and the appeal, as well as to the thousands of people affected by rare dementias, their families, carers and professionals who work alongside them. "
Speaking on behalf of The National Brain Appeal and Rare Dementia Support
World's First Rare Dementia Support Centre
In 2023, we proudly donated over £1 million to The National Brain Appeal to help create the first rare dementia support centre.
To mark IFCF’s 50th anniversary, IFCF Chairman, Richard Walker, took on the incredible challenge of climbing Mount Everest accompanied by mountaineer and adventurer, Kenton Cool, raising funds for the first rare
dementia support centre.
In support of Richard, Iceland and The Food Warehouse store colleagues held their own fundraising activities to help raise funds for this important project.
The National Brain Appeal is proud to have funded support groups for rarer dementias since 1994. It’s a service that provides specialist social, emotional and practical support for individuals living with, or affected by, rare dementias. Unusual dementias are generally under-researched, under-recognised and under supported. Of the 1m people in the UK expected to be diagnosed with dementia by 2025, between 5%-20% will experience a ‘rare’ form with symptoms emerging before they turn 50. This is devastating and isolating.
Caroline“As a Dementia Friend, I really enjoy helping customers who find grocery shopping overwhelming. It’s really rewarding knowing I’m making a difference.”
Dementia Friend store colleague, Chester
Our support for those living with dementia now
We’re the first food retailer ever to train every single colleague to be a Dementia Friend - that’s 28,000 people!
“Iceland has been a fantastic supporter of Alzheimer’s Society for a number of years now, raising over £1.5m towards dementia research and care during the time we were partnered. Iceland has also worked hard to become a more dementia friendly retailer, by creating 28,000 Dementia Friends amongst their employees and creating signage at their till points to remind people to be thoughtful towards people who might have or be affected by dementia. The support and dedication to the cause is phenomenal.”
Kate Lee
Chief Executive at Alzheimer’s Society
Thank you to the late Tony Husband for creating this bespoke cartoon for our stores...
